INNOVATION FOR INDEPENDENCE
ISSUE 112 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016/17 £6.95
Paralysed man feels sensation of touch again
A MAN has felt the sensation of touch again through a mind-controlled robotic arm that is directly connected to the brain, a decade after a car accident left him with quadriplegia from the upper chest down. Nathan Copeland, 28, was connected to the Brain Computer Interface, developed by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC. A team of experts led by Robert Gaunt, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, has demonstrated for the first time in humans a technology that allows Nathan to experience the sensation of touch through a robotic arm that he controls with his brain.
“The most important result in this study is that microstimulation of sensory cortex can elicit natural sensation instead of tingling,” said study co-author Andrew B. Schwartz, professor of neurobiology and chair in systems neuroscience, Pitt School of Medicine, and a member of the University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute. “This stimulation is safe, and the evoked sensations are stable over months. There is still a lot of research that needs to be carried out to better understand the
stimulation patterns needed to help patients make better movements.”
This is not the Pitt-UPMC team’s first attempt at a BCI. Four years ago, study co-author Jennifer Collinger, assistant professor in Pitt’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and research scientist for the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, and the team demonstrated a BCI that helped Jan Scheuermann, who has quadriplegia caused by a degenerative disease. The video of Jan feeding herself chocolate using the mind-controlled robotic arm was seen around the world. Before that, Tim Hemmes, paralysed in a motorcycle accident, reached out to touch hands with his girlfriend. “I can feel just about every finger—it’s a really weird sensation,” Nathan said about a month after surgery. “Sometimes it feels electrical and sometimes its pressure, but for the most part, I can tell most of the fingers with definite precision. It feels like my fingers are getting touched or pushed.” Dr. Gaunt explained that everything about the work is meant to make use of the brain’s natural, existing abilities to give people back what was lost but not forgotten.
A Royal Marine veteran and Paralympian who contracted Q Fever when on duties in Afghanistan has invented a new type of wheelchair that lets users raise themselves up to eye level. Philip Eaglesham, from Northern Ireland, served in Afghanistan as part of Taunton-based 40 Commando and caught the illness on his last day of a six-month deployment. The wheelchair is still in the development stage, and Corporal Eaglesham has now launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £600,000 needed to build two fully working prototypes.
BEAGLE Orthopaedic has more than doubled its premises to continue its success and plan for the future.
the forefront of the UK orthopaedic products industry. “Because of the range of diverse custom products that we offer, there is always something different. We can mix and match our products to ensure that what the patient receives is appropriate and adaptable for a particular individual.”
Founded in 2010, the Blackburn company has purchased the adjoining unit on the industrial estate where it is based, taking it from 1,500 sq ft to 4,250 sq fit. Custom fabrication director, Andy Dewsbury, said: “Expanding into the new building has enabled us to look ahead and invest in even more staff to cope with the demand from our customers. “We started the expansion three years ago when we took on two young lads as apprentices. This has worked brilliantly for us. We invested in local people and gave them a chance to train in a unique industry.” Andy said the company now plans to employ three more apprentices in the near future as it looks to remain at the forefront of the industry. “The investment in the new building has enabled us to increase our work capacity massively, and we have also invested in more machinery. “This has included the installation
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Company plans for the future by doubling size of premises Beagle Orthopaedic regularly hosts open days for orthotists to learn more about the products, and the most recent ones were over subscribed. Industry experts from across the UK travelled to find out about the range of complex products available. Beagle Orthopaedic has installed new machinery as part of its expansion.
of a new extraction facility, which cost in the region of £9,000, to meet increased productivity. “And we aren’t stopping there. In the near future we now have the space to put in another three machines should we need to.” The majority of staff who joined Beagle Orthopaedic when it was founded still remain to this day, which Andy believes is one of the
secrets to the company’s success. “We have people working here in there early 20s right up to people in their late 60s, and the knowledge that the older ones have is invaluable,” he added. “No matter how much machinery you install in a premises, the experiences and skills that our older members of staff are passing on are second to none, which is why we remain at
“We’re a one-stop shop for a wide range of diverse and complex products, and we never say ‘no’,” added Andy. “As part of the expansion we have also increased the administrative and customer service side of the business, as we want to maintain our very high standards. “We now have the robust productivity management systems in place to ensure that we can make high quality custom made products in just 24 hours.”
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NEWS
Trust builds new workshop in grounds THE Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Foundation Trust has invested in the in-house orthotics manufacturing department by building a new manufacturing workshop based within the hospital grounds.
The workshop, which was designed by Lance Jones, orthotic production manager, in conjunction with the Trusts Estates department, has a flow through manufacturing process consisting of five production areas, dispatch area and offices.
The new workshop is purpose built and has replaced the previous building which was in place for over 10 years but deemed unsafe due to the nature of its construction.
The department, one of the largest NHS in house departments in the country, manufactures approximately 5000 orders per year which consists of a large range of bespoke/custom made orthotic devices for the inhouse orthotic clinical team, the ORLAU department, two district general hospitals, the community Podiatry service, special schools and NHS trusts outside the local area.
This investment has secured the future of the department which has been based at the hospital for over 30 years and has continued to develop over the years and now employs nine staff.
With the workshop being on-site, this
assists with on the spot repairs and adjustments to devices for patients attending the clinics. Due to this service, the patient can take their device away on the day of their fitting appointment; which prevents the need for extra appointments. As the department manufactures devices for a number of externally based orthotists and community based podiatrists, it is this area the Trust is keen to develop. They are looking to offer a unique manufacturing service to other NHS in-house orthotic and podiatry clinical services across the UK, as the Trust are aware of their very competitive
prices and high quality products. Lance Jones said: “I am delighted that the Trust has decided to invest in the department, I feel we now have one of the premier NHS based manufacturing units in the country. “The facilities we have are on a par with private companies. We offer a superb service to the in-house clinical team and help alleviate the pressures of RTT times they face. “I would like to thank the Trust for their commitment and continued support, and due to this commitment it has facilitated the ability to offer a manufacturing service to orthotists and podiatrists based anywhere in the country.”
Firm to donate £25k to podiatry colleges Contacts Editorial Judith Halkerston Group Editor Email: jh@scriptmedia.co.uk Dominic Musgrave Group Production Editor Email: dm@scriptmedia.co.uk Tel: 01226 734407 Olivia Taylor Reporter Email: ot@scriptmedia.co.uk Sales Carole Rice Product Manager Email: cr@scriptmedia.co.uk Tel: 01226 734412 Fax: 01226 734478 Tony Barry Sales and Marketing Director Email: tb@scriptmedia.co.uk Circulation circulation@scriptmedia.co.uk 24 hour hotline: 01226 734695 Design/Production Stewart Holt Studio Manager Email: sth@scriptmedia.co.uk Ben Thornley Graphic Designer Email: bt@scriptmedia.co.uk
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PODIATRY colleges across the UK are to be given Slimflex insoles and orthotic components to a value of £2,000 per school for each academic year, starting with the 2017 academic year. The donations were announced during a reception at the College of Podiatry Annual Conference in Glasgow, by Jackie Fisher, the recently appointed CEO of A. Algeo Ltd (Algeos), which will be making the donations with a combined annual value in excess of £25,000. Jackie said: “We’re making this announcement tonight to ensure that students over the coming years have the materials they need as they learn how to adapt and prescribe orthotics to patients. “Slimfex is the UK’s most popular offthe-shelf range, it’s used with great regularity by practicing podiatrists and it is an important tool for the students. Algeos will be making this significant donation to all 13 of the UK’s podiatry colleges.” Algeos is a manufacturer and global distributor within the podiatry, physiotherapy and orthotic and prosthetic markets.
CEO Jackie Fisher with Max Sheridan, commercial director and Marc Cameron, product director.
Based in Speke, Liverpool, it is the market leading supplier to the NHS and offers the widest range of podiatry products in the UK, sourcing the best brands, products and innovation from around the world and distributing to podiatry departments and private practices worldwide. Distributed in the UK by Algeos, Slimflex is the nation’s most popular off-the-shelf orthotic insole range, its products being sold to more than 70 per cent of England NHS Trusts and all the Scottish and Welsh
Health Boards. A typical Slimflex Foot Orthotic is essentially a flat based neutral insole, designed specifically for the addition of other ‘orthotic’ components, to change the product from biomechanically non-corrective to fully corrective. Jackie announced the Algeos donation on the first evening of the College of Podiatry’s three day conference at the SECC in Glasgow, attended by more than 1,200 podiatrists, 100 speakers and 80 exhibitors. Algeos was the principal sponsor of the conference.
At Script Media, we try to get things right but occasionally, we make mistakes. If you have a complaint about a story featured in our magazine or on our website, please, in the first instance, contact us by email: dm@scriptmedia.co.uk We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice as demanded by the Independent Press Standards Organisation. For details on the code and what to do should you be unsatisfied with the way we handle your complaint, please visit www.ipso.co.uk
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016/2017
NEWS
Parents urged to act now to avoid missing out on £1.5m grant THE Department of Health has announced that the £1.5m Government funding, which was revealed earlier this year, for the provision of children’s sports prostheses and research has been ring-fenced and is now available for limb centres to access. Parents in England can now take their children to NHS Limb Fitting Centres to be assessed for eligibility. The funding is open to children and young people under the age of 18. Currently £750,000 has been set aside for the sports limbs with a cap of £5,000 per limb. Limb centres across England can apply for funding up until March 2018 and there are currently no plans in place for future funding, however this is being investigated. It is therefore advisable that parents act fast before the money is gone. The Department of Health will be working with the charity Limbpower who has been chosen to carry out an administrative role to support Limb Centres and families thought the application process. Philip Yates, managing director at Ottobock, said: “This is great news and goes some way to ensure children with limb amputation or congenital limb deficiency can lead healthy and active lives. It will give children and young adults the opportunity to participate in sport with a blade like the ones from our sportsline. “We believe it is important to encourage children to take part in sports and this funding will help make that possible. We want to see children lead full lives where they can play alongside their peers and we hope that this funding will be taken advantage of sooner rather than lat er.” The NHS advises that in order for children to stay healthy or to improve health, young people need to do three types of physical activity each week: aerobic exercise and exercises to strengthen bones and muscles. Providing children with the opportunity to participate in sporting activities with their peers not only ensures they get the exercise they need for healthy development as they grow, but also helps to develop their social skills and builds their confidence. The funding will ensure that hundreds of children have the chance to participate in sport. They will no longer need to sit out because their prosthesis isn’t suitable for sports like football, cycling or running. Ottobock hopes that the Government goes further and ensures that there is future funding so all children are offered the chance to be able to
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ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016/2017
Rio Woolf running on his Ottobock 1E93 Runner Junior blade and an Ottobock 3S80 sports knee.
participate in sports with their peers.
Someone who knows what it’s like to be a child living with an amputation is Rio Woolf. Rio was born with a one-in-a-million bone deficiency in his lower right leg which meant his tibia, knee and ankle joint was missing. Rio’s parents, Juliette and Trevor, were told that he would need a through-knee amputation. Rio underwent the operation at 14 months and was fitted with his first prosthetic leg at 17 months. Thanks to the encouragement of his parents and the inspiration of his Paralympic heroes he is now a happy and healthy eight-year-old boy with ambitions of becoming a Paralympian. Rio was recently fitted with an Ottobock 1E93 Runner Junior blade and an Ottobock 3S80 sports knee. Not only did this allow him to keep up with his peers as it gave him a better running style but it will also improve his symmetry of movement and reduce stresses and strains on his body. The Runner Junior is a carbon fibre running blade suitable for active children up to the age of approximately 13 years or to a maximum weight of 45kg. The blade is lightweight and robust providing a powerful drive and a stable turning point. It has been coupled with an allterrain, anti-skid sole that allows for running on different terrains – from grass fields to tartan running tracks. The robust 3S80 sports knee is designed to withstand the wear and tear of any workout level, no matter if you’re an athlete in training or a weekend jogger.
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Looking for a complete collaborative approach By Dan Howarth
in the next five years. It is vital the seriousness of the condition is more widely understood, and governments and health bodies listen and take action.
BACK in the summer we highlighted new figures that show an average of 20 amputations are taking place each day in England.
Significant investment in diabetes care and prevention by UK and national governments and the NHS, begins to recognise the scale of the challenge and we hope that footcare will benefit from this new approach and additional money.
That’s an annual figure of 7,370. Yet, with good diabetes healthcare and support, experts estimate that four out of five amputations could be prevented as 80 per cent begin as foot ulcers, which are largely avoidable and far more treatable if found early. Diabetic foot disease remains the most common cause of hospital admission associated with the condition. Because of the sharp increase in the number of people with diabetes in the past 20 years, the number of diabetes-related amputations continues to rise. Even though the amputation rate remains the same, it is deeply concerning that the worst performing areas currently have eight times the number of amputations than the best
However, this needs to be sustained to provide enough effective care for everyone living with diabetes and tackle the rapid rise of Type 2. Dan Howarth
performing – and that gap is getting wider. Clearly we need to see targeted action to improve the worst performing areas where rates of amputation are worsening or failing to improve. We know that the numbers of people with diabetes is set to rise still further
FREMS – Frequency Rhythmic Electrical Modulation System FREMS provides safe and effective treatment for neuropathic pain in diabetes. Specific. Simple. Unique. FREMS: Series of two-phase, asymmetrically balanced electric pulses, delivered via dedicated transcutaneous disposable electrodes. Side-effect free. TREATMENT: Three periods of 10 x 35 minute sessions over a 2-3 week period, with a three-month break
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between each 10-session period.
DPN: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN), can be a primary cause of diabetic foot ulcerations and a major cause of lower limb diabetic amputations. FREMS is delivered by the Aptiva medical device – now available in the UK from BHR. Enquiries: Visit www.bhr.co.uk call 02476 377 210 or email info@bhr.co.uk
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016/17
Anyone with diabetes with a foot infection or new ulcer must get urgent attention from a team of specialists, as evidence shows the longer the delay before seeing a specialist team, the more likely it is that foot ulcers will be severe and slow to heal, leading to a greater risk of amputation. Enough trained healthcare professionals, footcare protection teams and multidisciplinary footcare teams are vital to make sure problems are identified and treated early and urgently for everyone with diabetes. Everyone involved in the care of people with ‘at risk’ feet or those who care for people who have undergone life-changing amputations also need to bring their expertise and knowledge to the table to make best practice the norm. So what will make the difference? NICE recommends everyone with diabetes over the age of 12 has a quality, annual foot risk assessment.
If found to be at increased risk, they should be referred quickly for assessment by trained staff in community foot protection services and multidisciplinary specialist foot care teams (MDfT). The longer the delay before being seen by the diabetic foot care team, the more likely foot ulcers will be severe. People with diabetes should be told their risk of foot problems and how to care for their feet to prevent problems. There is plenty of support and leaflets available to order free from the Diabetes UK website. People with diabetes and reduced sensation in their feet are at risk of developing a foot ulcer during a hospital stay. NICE guidance recommends their feet are examined during admission to assess risk, and action taken to prevent ulcers from developing. In the 2015 inpatient audit less than a third (29 per cent) of people with diabetes had their feet checked within 24 hours of admission and only 34 per cent had feet checked at any time during their hospital stay. In some hospitals the number of people with diabetes recorded as having foot risk assessments was as low as five per 100 admissions. So a question for all of us. What can I do in 2017 to stem the tide of amputations? Whether that’s sharing best practice or adopting it, isn’t it time for all of us to take that step? n Dan Howarth is head of care at Diabetes UK.
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Orthotix expands ‘Paediatrix’ portfolio with inclusion of a Puffin, Penguin and Pelican OVER the last couple of years Orthotix in collaboration with their manufacturing partner Orliman have developed an exclusive collection of stock orthopaedic bracing specifically designed for children.
range comes in a variety of sizes to ensure accuracy of fit with all variants constructed from materials which offer greater flexibility when accommodating a patient’s foot and ankle.
Each product within the range aptly branded ‘Paediatrix’, has been created for common childhood injuries and conditions with functionality, comfort and aesthetics in mind.
Thus offering ease of access and increased comfort whilst consistently providing the desired structural integrity for coronal and sagittal plane control.
Through continued product development, their team of experienced Orthotists, Podiatrists and Physiotherapists have helped to introduce innovative new products to the market.
Each variant comes in left or right with eight sizes, all available next working day, with the convenient possibility of consignment stock allocation dependant upon volumes.
Their range now includes the vibrantly coloured soft shell protective helmets, the ever popular Feet In Motion corrective insoles and the simple but effective tibiofemoral de-rotational straps. After a delayed launch for some necessary design improvements, their most anticipated product line to date is now available. It is a prefabricated collection of flexible ankle foot orthoses which have been 18 months in the making. The collaborative project between
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Dacey Ltd and Orliman has resulted in a paediatric range of stock thermoplastic ankle foot orthoses, including; a supra malleolar variant, standard or high top plantarflexion control variants and also a unique adjustable hinged model. These exciting new products provide dynamic foot and ankle control for children with conditions such as:
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016/17
excessive pronation, ankle instability, low tone, high tone, toe walking and hyperextension of the knee. The range has been specifically designed to overcome the issues that are often experienced with their custom alternatives; such as plaster casting, repeated appointments, high costs and Orthotist adjustment. Orthotix have ensured that their
The products have been styled using unisex coloured straps and incorporate child friendly branding with each version styled around a cartoon bird, namely the “Puffin, Penguin and Pelican”. Every product issued also includes a smile-inducing sticker with the respective cartoon bird for the child to use as they see fit. Perhaps the most appealing aspect of this delightful new range is the price, with all variants being favourably priced compared to market leading equivalents.
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DM Dorsiflex Sock essential kit for Paralympians DM Orthotics’ DMO Dorsiflex Sock proved to be a winner for Paralympians in Rio this year. The lightweight and comfortable alternative to traditional rigid AFO’s was worn by members of the GB Boccia team as well as athletics and cycling sensation Kadeena Cox. The sock is designed to provide active dorsiflexion during walking and running and is also used to correct positional alignment. By doing this it enables improved walking patterns and provides additional uplift for patients with reduced strength making it particularly effective for post-stroke
and multiple sclerosis symptoms. Kadeena Cox comments on the benefits the DMO Dorsiflex Socks give her. She said: “I wear my socks when I train and compete to stop my feet turning inwards and to prevent me from walking on my toes, which was leading to really bad Achilles problems. “It’s a very exciting area of development that has also proven wonderfully beneficial for the mobility of children with Cerebral Palsy, which is something I’d like to specialise in when I graduate.”
GB Boccia Team players Patrick Wilson (BC3) and Claire Taggart (BC2) also use the socks to help correct the positioning of their feet. Patrick has Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy, which affects all four limbs and trunk and means he has to contend with uncontrolled movements and fluctuating tone in a game where accuracy is paramount. Patrick is a big fan of his DMO socks, He added: “My feet are quite mangled and my toes are all bent underneath my feet. “The compression in the socks helps to lessen tone and straighten and
align them, making them feel more comfortable.” Claire, who has Dystonia, has similar praise for her socks, which she attributes her recent success in part to their clinical benefits. “I’ve used the socks for a year now and they’re great,” she said. “They help straighten my feet, give me a more stable base on my footplate from which to push off from when I throw and are brilliant at stimulating my poor circulation.” For more information on DM Orthotics’ Team DMO athletes, their stories and the products they use visit www.dmorthotics. com
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NEWS
Step-On – unique WWII POW and author finds his freedom again off-the-shelf articulated AFOs A WORLD War II veteran and media commentator has spoken out about his new found freedom after struggling with reduced mobility.
BRACE Orthopaedic is exclusively supplying the Step-On range of innovative AFOs for the treatment of foot drop.
Former paratrooper and rifleman Victor Gregg,97, from Swanmore in Hampshire, survived the horrific and controversial allied bomb attack on the historic German city of Dresden in 1945.
These AFOs are unique because they are articulated offering adjustable dorsiflexion assistance, while being off-the-shelf products.
Victor, then 26, was held prisoner by Germans after being sentenced to death for burning down the factory where he was working as punishment for trying to escape his POW camp. While there, he was caught in the Dresden bomb attack.
In this way they allow essential functional movements during the gait cycle, while at the same time providing the exact amount of control required by each patient, at every stage of their rehabilitation programme. The Step-On AFOs are extremely lightweight and incorporate unilateral or bilateral spring-loaded hinges. These allow a ROM between 22° dorsiflexion and 11° plantarflexion. Step-On provides both dorsiflexion for foot clearance during swing phase and controlled plantarflexion for stability during loading response. The adjustable dorsiflexion assistance allows precise adjustment according to the patient’s body weight, muscle tone of the plantarflexor muscles, active control
Seventy years on, Victor and his wife Bett, 84, have begun struggling with their mobility, feeling trapped in their home town despite both using mobility scooters.
of the dorsiflexors and usual walking speed, ensuring optimal gait biomechanics. Enquiries: Visit www.braceorthopaedic.co.uk or call 0191 2588944.
“We cover miles each week on our mobility scooters but have been forced to stay local because lifting the heavy scooters into the car to travel further afield is impossible at our age,” Victor said. “We love our days out but you can’t get far if you can’t get your scooters into the car. We’re both in good health and the last thing we wanted was to lose the freedom of choosing where we go and when we go.” Victor and Bett saw an advert for Autochair, a company created by disabled engineer David Walker who was paralysed in an accident in 1975. Frustrated by the lack of mobility products, David used his engineering expertise to design and build a hoist to lift his wheelchair into the back of his car.
Within months, he was inundated with requests for bespoke hoists and in 1983, David’s ideas were put into production and his specialist hoist company Autochair, was born.
“The Autochair hoists are an incredible feat of engineering. We have an Olympian model fitted and it instantly gave us the freedom to take our scooters anywhere we want in the country,” Victor added. “After my experiences in life, freedom is everything and is not something I’m prepared to loose just because I’m in my 90s.” Victor’s eye witness account of the brutal and controversial slaughter of German civilians is told through his book The Rifleman: A Front Line Life, with an ebook account of his experience in Dresden entitled Dresden, A Survivor’s Story. After receiving huge acclaim, Victor went on to write Kings Cross Kid – a tale of childhood between the wars and Soldier Spy: A Survivors Tale which tells of Victor’s post-war life, involving M15, M16 and the KGB. “Since writing my books about my experiences in the war, I never know where or when I might be asked to go for my next interview. Autochair’s hoist means that where I go, my scooter goes too,” Victor added. “It took me over 40 years to get over what I saw at Dresden and it still haunts me to this day. But I’ve made sure I’ve lived a full life ever since and I wasn’t going to let my reduced mobility stop me doing what I want. ”With our new Olympian hoist, Bett and I have the freedom to travel wherever we want to go again. And that is absolutely priceless.”
What makes us different? WE believe that a products provenance is of the utmost importance. Producing quality orthopaedic goods made by skilled machinists, using premium materials and keeping skills alive in the UK is what makes us different to our competition. Because all our orthopaedic soft good products are produced on site, we can tailor goods to suit individual hospital and patient needs. Not all
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ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016/17
patients are the same, custom and stock products can be made to your specific measurements. So, if you need your product bigger, longer, shorter, wider, additional straps, a different material, sky blue and pink with yellow dots then we are the company to come to! If you have any unusual needs or would like something specific then contact customer service 01254 268788.
Benefits of therapeutic children’s footwear CHILDREN
CHILDREN’S feet grow at a rate of two full sizes each year until fouryears-old, then one size per year after this age – indicating the importance of correctly fitting footwear and sufficient support during this significant growth period. Some children may require extra support to provide them with superior stability to assist in a more energy efficient gait and achieve an improved walking pattern.
Solution for disabled paediatric toileting ACCORDING to research, using functional rooms – including the bathroom – is the second biggest problem faced by the 0.75m families with a disabled child.
In an effort to help alleviate the issues surrounding going to the toilet, Closo-Mat has published a new white paper – Guidance & Considerations in the Provision of Toilet Aids for Disabled Children. “The ability to go to the toilet with less, or no, help, has a huge impact on any child’s independence and selfcare skills,” said Mark Sadler, sales director at Clos-o-Mat. “Assistive technology needs to be carefully and
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properly selected, so it provides the appropriate support, ensuring the child can go to the loo safely, achieve effective bowel and bladder evacuation, be hygienically clean after, and will not be outgrown within a matter of months.”
The white paper is available for download from www.clos-o-mat.com Enquiries: Call 0161 969 1199.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016/17
This is where specialist orthotic footwear can be prescribed, as lightweight rubber soles and extended stiffeners on both sides help the stability of the foot. With their removable anatomically shaped footbeds, orthotic boots are a particularly effective method in providing sufficient support for children with various conditions such as flat feet, hyper mobility, hind foot instability, KTS, sensitive feet and those who need extra support when walking. Alex Callaghan, a clinician from Steeper Group, a provider of this footwear through the NHS said: “Some conditions present instabilities at the foot and ankle, meaning that finding suitable shop-bought footwear for these children is often difficult, as shop-bought footwear does not offer the support they need in order to progress their physical
skills. In cases like these, specialist, custom made orthotic footwear is prescribed to enable our patients to achieve their full potential.” The customisations can take many forms, as Alex explained: “These customisations usually consist of matching the length and width of the footwear to accommodate the patient’s feet, and often require the addition of a shoe raise, which can be easily done with the Calzamedi range. “This ensures that in cases where the affected limb is shorter, the shorter limb is accommodated; the pelvis is levelled and this all in turn prevents any long-term detrimental effect on the spine.” Thanks to advancements within the industry over the last eight years, children requiring therapeutic orthotic footwear now have more choice of design and colour – creating an exciting process and allowing patients to continue their lives as normally as possible. For more information on the children’s Calzamedi orthotic footwear range, email orthoticenquiries@ steepergroup.com, call 0113 270 4841 or visit www.steepergroup.com
ONE of the UK’s longest-running robotics companies, Shadow Robot, has opened a new office in Bristol’s Future Space, which is based at the University of the West of England, adjacent to the Bristol Robotics Laboratory.
CHILDREN grow and change so fast… and so do their feet! It is important to ensure children have well fitting footwear, however, no two children are the same, and usually no two feet are the same either! Suitable footwear can be especially important when a child has a neurodisability, hypermobility, altered biomechanics in the foot, wears an orthosis or requires additional support in the foot. Piedro® has been designing and manufacturing Orthopaedic and Therapy footwear for children for nearly 60 years, offering an extensive range of high quality orthopaedic and therapy footwear in four different construction types – Rehabilitation, Stability, Reverse Last and AFO – available in a wide choice of colours, sizes from 15-46, and up to eight width fittings. Piedro® Essentials range is a wide choice of styles which are in stock and delivered within two to three days. Our dedicated technicians can also make adaptations to our stock
Shadow Robot is a partner in the Innovate UK-funded CHIRON project, a two year programme to design care robotics for the future, partnering with the BRL and Designability, amongst others. footwear. Piedro® Concepts is our extensive range of colourful modern designs and a choice of construction types, fastenings, soles, sizes and widths. To compliment our footwear, Piedro® also offers inlays / insoles, available both off-the-shelf and made to order, made on the same lasts as our footwear for a perfect fit. For all your paediatric orthopaedic footwear needs, please take a look at our Piedro® 2016-17 catalogue, or visit our website www.piedro-uk. co.uk For further information or to place an order please contact customer services on 0845 617 1976 or by email Customerservices@piedro-uk.co.uk
Managing director of Shadow Robot, Rich Walker, said: “Having an office in Bristol is perfect for us. We have many links out here in the West of England, and it’s a great base for us to work closer with our partners on the CHIRON project. “We’re also keen to build new relationships in this area, and Future Space seems like the best possible fit for us in terms of location and links to other innovators and businesses.” The centre director of Future Space, Elaine McKechnie, added: “Shadow Robot is a perfect fit for Future Space and we are very excited that they have decided to set up a base here.
“Shadow Robot joins a growing group of engineering and technology companies that are seeking to work in a stimulating environment that will nurture collaboration opportunities.”
The CHIRON project (Care at Home using Intelligent Robotic Omni-functional Nodes) looks to create a set of intelligent modular robotic systems, located in multiple positions around the home.
CHILDREN
Piedro® offers a range of Shadow Robot opens high quality orthopaedic office at Future Space and therapy footwear
CHIRON could help with personal hygiene tasks in the morning, get ready for the day and even offer support in preparing a meal in the kitchen. It is being managed by a consortium led by Designability. The key technology partners are the Bristol Robotics Laboratory and Shadow Robot Company, who have considerable expertise in conducting pioneering research and development in robotics. Two recent projects include the award-winning TV programme ‘How to Build a Bionic Man’ (‘The Incredible Bionic Man’ in the US) and the development of the ground-breaking Moley Robotic Kitchen.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016/17
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